Significant progress was made in the long–term conceptual reform of legal studies, which started two years ago. In the autumn of 1998, the final version of the new curriculum was finished. The restructuring of the Mgr. (Master’s) degree examinations began and the academic standards for the final–year dissertations became stricter, with the new requirement of a summary written in a world language. Several new subjects were introduced to accommodate public demand. A number of subjects were taught by professors from foreign universities, and it was the Jan Hus Educational Foundation who helped to introduce the more difficult subjects.

The first subject taught in English was introduced, integrating both the specialist and linguistic aspects of the discipline (international refugee law). The third year of the regular semester series of lectures delivered by professors at the faculties of law in Paris was completed successfully. These were translated into Czech.

The specialised three–year Bc. (Bachelor’s) course in real–estate law and the theory and practice of the preliminary criminal proceedings continued successfully.

Scholarly research continued and thirteen grant projects were completed. Teachers at the Faculty published the results of their research in seventeen monographs, one of which was published abroad. Altogether 196 scholarly articles appeared, including those published in almanacs, of which eleven appeared in foreign journals.

Both faculty yearbooks, Orbis Iuris Romani and the Yearbook of European Law, continue to be published, as does the legal scholarly journal.

Teachers at the Faculty gained new qualifications through their scholarly research. Four defended successfully their associate–professor dissertations and two new full professors were appointed. Five new research assistants completed their courses of post–graduate studies and acquired doctoral degrees.

The theoretical results of scholarly work continue to be put into practice mainly through commissions from the state institutions. The teachers at the Faculty also provide assistance in the legislative work done by constitutional legislative institutions. A number of public lectures were held, intended both for the experts in the field and the wider public.

Last year, 55 textbooks were published, two of them abroad. Some textbooks written by teachers at the Faculty were published in their second or third revised editions.

The Faculty of Law of Masaryk University organised eight scholarly conferences. Its teachers took part in 28 conferences and seminars, 19 of which took place abroad.

International contacts were further developed, both on the scholarly and pedagogical levels. The yearly Czech–American seminar, with teachers from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago participating, took place again during this academic year, its topic being ”Recent Problems in the Constitutional Developments in the Czech Republic and the USA.”

The faculty played host to 42 foreign visitors, most of whom delivered a lecture during their visit.